Some lawmakers say higher gas tax makes sense

Saturday

While drivers around the state would hardly consider a gasoline tax hike a victory, some legislators say Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed 19-cent-a-gallon increase is good news for residents.

While drivers around the state would hardly consider a gasoline tax hike a victory, some legislators say Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed 19-cent-a-gallon increase is good news for residents.

"Considering where we were a few months ago with doubling the Mass. Turnpike tolls, this is a big win for MetroWest," said state Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick.

Patrick on Friday presented his proposal to revamp the state's transportation system. The plan calls for restructuring and new revenue, the governor said, and will bring stability to a debt-ridden system.

"Our needs far exceed what we've proposed," Patrick said at a news conference Friday. "This will put us on a secure fiscal and financial foundation."

The proposal would raise the state's gas tax to 42.5 cents from 23.5 cents, making it the highest in the country. Patrick stressed a "one Massachusetts" outlook, that revenue from the tax was going toward a shared debt burden and would yield shared benefits for all residents.

Linsky said commuters, faced with significant toll increases on the Turnpike, would actually save money under the governor's proposal.

"I realize that a 19-cent gas tax (increase) may make people a little scared," Linsky said. "But the reality is that one trip a week on the Mass. Turnpike under the toll proposal will be more money than you will be paying on the gas tax."

The gas tax in Massachusetts has not been increased since 1991, Patrick said, acknowledging that the current economic crisis makes it a "crummy time" to ask people for more.

Other legislators saw the governor's announcement as an opening toward solving some of the state's revenue woes.

"This is a great basis for starting a discussion," said Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston. "The gas tax, while it's not going to make anyone happy, is reasonable."

The governor's proposal would devote one cent from the 19-cent hike going toward "innovative" gas and toll solutions; 4 cents would mitigate plans for hikes in Pike and Boston Harbor tunnel tolls. The additional 14 cents would fund several repair and construction projects, repay the Big Dig debt and avoid further service cuts and fare increases on the T and commuter rails.

"We need to be dedicated to transportation," Dykema said. "If we're going to make the commitment to this gas tax, we need to make sure it's going where we say it's going to go, and (this proposal) ensures that."

Up until the governor's announcement, it appeared the state planned to bring in new revenue from the estimated $100 million toll hike being considered by the Turnpike Authority, an entity which would be eliminated under Patrick's plan. The Turnpike Authority, which is scheduled to vote on the toll increases next week, would be eliminated under Patrick's plan.

"If the Legislature does not approve the gas tax, then a toll increase will have to go into effect," Patrick said. "I will ask the (transportation) secretary to ask for a conditional vote, so if the gas tax goes through, then there will be no toll increase."

Local representatives called Patrick's conditional proposal "critical" to Massachusetts, saying that it would be unfair to expect residents to pay both an increased gas tax and higher tolls.

"This puts the pressure on us to move quickly," Linsky said.

Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, said that the choice shouldn't be between a gas tax and a toll hike, as drivers would still be paying a large amount of statewide debt.

"We need to find a solution that is fair and equitable," Spilka said. "This is a statewide issue, and we need statewide solutions."

The state is facing a number of important projects and investments, the governor said, but the administration had to make difficult choices and trade-offs in its proposal to ensure regional equity and stability.

Noting the number of urgent investments facing the state, Patrick said that if every project had been included the proposal would have totaled a 73-cent increase.

"We have to be willing to make these choices," Patrick said. "And the reckoning is now here."

Patrick said that reform goes hand-in-hand with the tax, and that he would not sign off on a bill that did not include reforms along with additional sources of revenue.

In a move to help restore public confidence in the transportation department and streamline its efficiency, the governor's proposal merges or eliminates several departments, creating only four departments for Highway, Rail and Transit, Aviation and Port, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

MetroWest Daily News

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